Posting for housekeeping advice, really boring thread

[Julehavehadyourtea]

Ive noticed that some of my towels have started to smell, a horrible/meaty/chicken soup sort of smell that you only notice when they are used. Usually washing in non bio detergent 40-60 deg, plus occasionally sports wash, and tumble dried. We are in a very hard water area.
I dont use fabric softener routinely - but if I do it will be a hypoallergenic/unscented kind as one of my kids has hypersensitivity/allergies and perfumes can trigger migraines - so Zoflora or strong masking scents are not an option.

It only seems to be these particular (irritatingly expensive) towels, and no clothes or cheaper (better) towels have the same issues, no evidence of the smell in either the tumble dryer or the washing machine
Ive cleaned all filters, done a machine rinse and spend my days going around sniffing like a demented scent hound to try and work out the source of the smell.

Any suggestions before I throw the towels out?

Fabric softeners make towels less effective at absorbing water and so I wouldn't recommend using them when washing towels, cleaning rags etc I always just shove some white vinegar in the softener drawer when washing towels (the smell dissapates)

Have you tried a vinegar wash or a boil wash? That might help reset them although maybe someone else has a better idea? :)

Do you tumble dry.

That smell is usually associated with things taking too long to dry.

Put them on a bio, 95° wash.
I do that weekly with the cleaning cloths and tea towels to keep the machine fresh.
Might the towels be hanging around damp, before they go into the wash?

I was going to type this 😄

Vinegar should do it. Wait for a dry windy day and dry them outside.

Thanks so much for responses to the worlds most boring problem

I dont use fabric softener as a routine, usually not with towels
We do tumble dry, but things dont tend to sit in the washing machine or basket long (I have a routine around my shifts and the cheapest electricity prices that mean washing getting dried/transfered pretty quickly)
I will try a 90 wash of just these towels and white vinegar to see if it helps
Outside drying possibilities are limited sadly

Otherwise they will be donated to the local dog rescue where their smell might be appreciated

Even drying on a hanger by an open door can help - it's the next best thing to hanging outdoors. Can you try various different things (as a control), so washing with vinegar/boil washing/hanging outside and see what helps? It might need to be ALL of the things, but it might just be one element, if you try all of them then you can narrow it down to what's causing the smell - because it might be causing it on other things that you just haven't noticed yet.

Do you use limescale remover with the cleaning cycle?

I do use a limescale remover as a separate solo wash every few weeks

Im pretty convinced its only these towels that have a problem, I have a v good sense of smell, have been checking obsessively and no other items seem to have the same issue

I find air drying towels makes them go hard and flat, and if done indoors takes ages, which is why I tumble try for preference

Dettol Laundry Cleanser is the only thing that'll deal with this.